Random Wrestling Match Review (August 26, 2012)

Welcome to my Random Wrestling Match Review. Each match I review is randomly selected by using a random number generator to select a number. After getting my random number, I go to my list of 500+ wrestling matches on DVD and review the match that has that number. This week, I am randomly reviewing a WWE match I have never seen before. Earlier this month, I purchased a few WWE DVDs and the DVDs had several matches I had not seen. So I made a list of all of the unseen matches from those DVDs. The match I will review is...

Casket Match: The Undertaker vs. Heidenreich (Royal Rumble- January 30, 2005)

This match happened during my 6+ year break from watching wrestling. I really don't know much about Heidenreich. All I know about him is that he once read poetry to Michael Cole. As I write this, I have not seen this match. I will review the match while I watch it. I know the result of the match, but I don't know what happens during this match so hopefully that will make this review more interesting. This will be like a live reactions review even though this match happened seven years ago.

The Facts:

• Heidenreich was in the WWE from 2003 to 2006. He was a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion with Road Warrior Animal as his partner. Heidenreich is recognized as a member of the Legion of Doom (L.O.D.). 
• The 2005 Royal Rumble took place at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. 12,000 fans attended the event. This is the same arena that hosted the first RAW after this year's SummerSlam which was last Monday. 
• This is one of many casket matches that the Undertaker has competed in. Other casket matches includes The Undertaker vs. Yokozuna (Royal Rumble 1994), The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Royal Rumble 1998), and The Undertaker vs. Mark Henry (WrestleMania 22). 
• This match can be seen on the Royal Rumble 2005 DVD. It can also be seen on The Undertaker's Deadliest Matches DVD.
• Michael Cole and Tazz called this match.
• This match had a 13:20 time length.  

The Match:

Undertaker puts Heidenreich in a headlock at the start of the match. Undertaker is pulling Heidenreich towards the casket. Heidenreich gets out of the headlock and moves to the corner. Taker puts him into another headlock. Heidenreich shoves Undertaker into the ropes and Taker hits him with his shoulder. Taker does a hip toss and an ARM DRAG!! Wow...Taker is turning into Ricky Steamboat. Taker with an arm bar. This is a very technical casket match so far. Heidenreich with a headlock now. Heidenreich hits Taker with a shoulder knockdown after Taker shoots him into the ropes. Heidenreich puts another side headlock onto the Undertaker. Taker shoots Heidenreich into the ropes and another shoulder knockdown by Heidenreich. Taker takes down Heidenreich and puts him in a single leg Boston Crab! Taker has so many moves I didn't know he had! Heidenreich is crawling towards the casket. Heidenreich crawls out of the ring. Heidenreich is trying to leave the ringside area, but Taker stops him. Taker is irish whipped into the casket! Heidenreich bounces Taker's head off the top of the casket.

They are back in the ring. Heidenreich is punching and kicking Taker in the corner. Heidenreich looks a little bit like Brock Lesnar. A smaller Brock Lesnar. Taker has his legs wrapped around Heidenreich! It's a triangle choke! Snitsky is in the ring! Where did he come from? He starts attacking Taker. This is a no disqualification match. Double suplex on Taker by Snitsky and Heidenreich. Now this is a handicap match and both men are attacking Taker. A referee opens the casket and KANE IS INSIDE THE CASKET!!! WHOA!!! HOLY SHIT!! Snitsky and Heidenreich don't know that Kane is right behind them! Kane starts attacking them! Heidenreich is kicked out of the ring. Kane clotheslines Snitsky out of the ring and Kane falls over the ropes too. Now Kane and Snitsky are fighting in the crowd!

Heidenreich is outside the ring and he is trying to move the casket away from the ring. Taker sneaks up behind Heidenreich and bounces Heidenreich's head off the casket. Heidenreich reverses an irish whip and whips Taker into the steel steps. Heidenreich is removing the mat padding outside the ring. Heidenreich goes to the casket and rolls it right into the Undertaker!!! WOW!! Undertaker was sitting next to the ring so he got sandwiched between the ring and the casket. They are back in the ring now. Heidenreich puts Taker in a choke hold. The casket is opened. Heidenreich rolls Taker into the casket. All he has to do is shut the lid and he's the winner. Taker gets his arm up and prevents the lid from closing all the way! Taker opens the lid and punches Heidenreich. Taker drags Heidenreich's head into the casket with the rest of his body lying on the ring apron. Taker gets out of the casket and it looks like he is going to do his patented leg drop! No...not on his head!



OHHHH!!!! He did it! Taker's legs land on the casket lid and Heidenreich's head is crushed!!! THE CROWD IS CHANTING "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!"

Taker gets Heidenreich back into the ring and somehow Heidenreich is standing. Taker puts his hand on Heidenreich's neck. It's chokeslam time! Headbutt by Heidenreich! Taker is whipped into the corner, but Taker gets out right away with a boot to Heidenreich's face. Taker bounces off the ropes and Heidenreich slams the Undertaker. Heidenreich goes for the cover, but this is a casket match. Heidenreich drags Undertaker to the casket. Taker is in the casket again. Heidenreich tries to close the casket, but Undertaker puts his hand on Heidenreich's neck! Taker battles out of the casket. They are going back and forth with their punches. Taker wins the fist fight and hits Heidenreich with a DDT. Taker hits the chokeslam! Taker does his "It's time to Rest In Peace" signal with his thumb going across his neck.Taker has Heidenreich up for a tombstone. He hits it! Tombstone piledriver by the Undertaker! Taker asks for the casket to be opened. Taker rolls Heidenreich into the casket and closes the lid! The Undertaker wins!!!

Winner: The Undertaker

Rating: ***1/2

That was a good match. Undertaker is at his best during gimmick matches so I shouldn't be surprised that this was a good match. I'm kinda surprised that Undertaker had a good match with Heidenreich. I don't know much about Heidenreich, but his short career with the WWE and the fact he is rarely talked about tells me that he wasn't a very good WWE Superstar. I wasn't expecting a good match, but I enjoyed this match. It wasn't one of the best Undertaker matches I have ever seen, but it had just enough good spots for me to enjoy it. Very impressive match considering that Undertaker vs. Heidenreich is not a very attractive match-up. It's not a classic match by any means, but it kept me entertained during the entire match which is something that doesn't happen often. It was a very quick 13 minutes. I enjoy an Undertaker gimmick match more than a Bret Hart technical match. This match was similar to the type of matches I enjoy watching.